Two-piece snowboard for controlled movement on snow or other glidable media

ABSTRACT

A two-piece snowboard for controlled movement on snow and other media for gliding, comprising front and rear gliding members having binding devices for holding feet. A connecting device couples the front and rear gliding members. The connective device includes first and second connecting elements connected to one of the gliding members. In various embodiments at least one of the first and second connecting elements is rigid, and the further connecting element is able to rotate in at least one plane. Additionally, or alternatively, at least one of the first and second connecting elements includes at least two bearing elements. The bearing elements provide for movement about the horizontal axis transverse to a direction of travel and/or movement about the vertical axes of the bearing elements, and also provide for connection to the gliding members. The first and second connecting elements and the bearing elements are provided with a restoring torque.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a two-piece snowboard.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A conventional two-piece snow board is described in German PublishedPatent Application No. 196 28 248. In this case, two gliding members areinterconnected by an articulated linkage, which allows a flexible jointto rotate relatively to each gliding member, about a transverse axisparallel to the center axis. However, this snowboard only allows one toglide on snow to a very limited extent, since the two gliding memberscan move uncontrollably in the joints while riding.

German Patent No. 93 15 355 also describes a two-piece snowboard, whichhave individual gliding members joined by a connecting rod. The jointsat the end of the connecting rod are attached in the space between theraised footprints for the user and the gliding members. The joints canfreely pivot 360°, which results in high forces occurring while riding,rendering the two-piece snowboard unridable as well. In addition, theraised standing position of the user leads to a strong feeling ofimbalance, due to shifting the center of gravity upwards. This situationis also not beneficial for riding in a controlled manner.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,051 describes two gliding members, which are joinedto different rubber belts, bands, or similar connecting elements. Theelastically designed connecting devices do not ensure that the selecteddistance between the gliding members for riding in a controlled manneris maintained. Such a device cannot be controlled purely by the musclepower of the user.

French Published Patent Application No. 27 39 297 describes apossibility for connecting mini skis, using one or more torsion rods ora rubber bearing between the rear end of the first mini ski and thefront end of the second mini ski. In this context, the torsion rods arerigid or adjustable in the longitudinal direction with the ski elements,but are not connected to them by joints. Connecting the ski elementsusing a rubber bearing allows the front mini ski to rotate with respectto the rear mini ski, but does not allow the ski elements to moveparallel to each other, which is useful for controlled cornering.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides the two-piece snowboard that may becontrolled and inspected very easily. The snowboard is not exclusivelycontrolled by the user shifting his or her body weight, but rather bythe user rotating his or her legs. The possibility of controlling thesnowboard to an exact degree allows the direction to be changed in acontrolled manner, the ability of the user to balance not playing acrucial part in changing direction. In addition, the present inventionprovides a two-piece snowboard, which is provided with asnowboard-element connecting device in which restoring torques areintegrated in joint elements, which are optimally and individuallyadapted to the specific riding situation, by means of quick adjustment,for all speed ranges in which the two-piece snowboard is moved. That is,the overall handling of the two-piece snowboard can be adjusted to bevery stiff for fast downhill runs, and the joint elements can beadjusted loosely for turning at a tight curve radius. Two differentquick adjustments are possible here. The first adjustment option existsat the main joint element, which can absorb torsion, bending, andcompressive forces in three planes, and whose stiffness can be adjustedby a hand-operated knob. The second adjustment option exists in theregion of the connecting lever of the connecting device. The range ofmotion and the restoring torque of the connecting lever in thehorizontal plane can also be adjusted very quickly by a hand-operatedknob, and can be adapted to the specific riding situations. The twopossibilities for adjustment go so far, that the joints can reach theirmaximum available travel, and a rigid connection can be created betweenthe gliding members and the connecting lever. The connecting device isthen in the form of a rigid connection between the gliding members. Thepresent invention also provides for devices, which are similar tobindings and bind the user to the board, to be integrated into theconnecting device for the two snowboard elements. In this context, thesebinding-like devices can be designed for soft boots or for ski boots. Itis crucial that both the binding-like device and the connecting devicebe jointly fastened to the snowboard. This yields efficiencies withregard to manufacturing. The necessary adjustments regarding differentcrotch measurements of persons of different size can be madeeconomically, using a length adjustment device in the region of theconnecting lever or fastening elements.

In addition, the present invention allows one to move on flat terrain bywriggling the front and rear parts of the snowboard relatively to eachother. A change of direction is even easier to control, i.e. more easilypossible, when one is almost at rest or traveling uphill. Furthermore,the present invention allows the curve radius of the ridden curve to becontrolled and changed at all times, without having to apply compressionpressure to the snowboard end. The present invention can be disassembledvery quickly for using a ski lift, so that each of the two snowboardparts remains on one foot of the user while riding the lift. This allowsone to ride the lift decidedly more easily in comparison withconventional snowboards. If the user does not wish to separate the twohalves of the ski, the present invention facilitates riding the ski liftby improving the ability to balance. In the same manner, the presentinvention can be quickly disassembled after use, into two or more parts,and can therefore be transported easily.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the two-piece snowboardaccording to the present invention having an exemplary connecting rodassembly that is connected to gliding members by exemplary connectingelements.

FIG. 2 shows another exemplary embodiment of the two-piece snowboardaccording to the present invention having an exemplary connecting devicethat is connected to gliding members by exemplary connecting elementsand bearing elements.

FIG. 3 shows another exemplary embodiment of the two-piece snowboardaccording to the present invention having an exemplary connecting rodassembly having two parts joined by an exemplary connecting element(17), the two parts being joined to gliding members by exemplarilyrepresented, connecting elements or fixed bearings.

FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal cross-section of an exemplary implementationof the connecting elements shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal cross-section of another implementation ofthe connecting elements.

FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal cross-section of a further implementation ofthe connecting elements.

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary embodiment of a locking arrangement for theconnecting elements shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. A front view of aconnecting element is represented.

FIG. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment of the two-piece snowboardaccording to the present invention having an exemplary connecting devicewhich interconnects the gliding members.

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary embodiment of the two-piece snowboardaccording to the present invention having an exemplary connecting devicewhich includes integrated, binding devices that interconnect the glidingmembers.

FIG. 10 shows a longitudinal cross-section of an exemplary embodiment ofthe connecting device. An adjustable joint element of connecting devicefor attachment to the gliding members is illustrated.

FIG. 11 shows a section along line A—A of FIG. 10 of a bearing block ofthe connecting rod assembly.

FIG. 12 shows a section along line B—B of FIG. 10 illustrating a coverof the connecting rod assembly, as well as a damping adjustment devicefor the lever.

FIG. 13 shows a electric adjusting device.

FIG. 14 shows a pneumatic adjusting device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment, where the two gliding members 1, 2to which binding-like devices 3, 4 are attached are connected by aconnecting rod assembly 5 and connecting elements 6, 7. Connectingelements 6, 7 are fastened to gliding members 1, 2 on one side, and tothe two ends of connecting rod assembly 5 on the other side. Connectingelements 6, 7 can be designed in a variety of ways. For example, theconnecting elements 6, 7 can be designed as ball-head joints, whichenable connecting rod assembly 5 to move relatively to gliding member 1,2, about both the vertical axis and the horizontal axis of connectingelements 6, 7. In addition, one or two of the connecting elements 6, 7can be designed so as to only allow a movement about the horizontalaxis. Furthermore, connecting elements 6, 7 can be designed so as topermit connecting rod assembly 5 to move only relatively to glidingmembers 1, 2, in a manner limited by the angle of rotation.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment, where the two gliding members 1, 2to which binding-like devices 3, 4 are attached are joined by aconnecting device 8 and connecting elements 9, 10. Connecting elements9, 10 are fastened to gliding members 1, 2 on one side, and to the endsof connecting device 8 on the other side. Connecting element 9 can bedesigned in a variety of ways. For example, connecting element 9 can bedesigned as a ball-head joint, so that connecting device 8 can moverelatively to either gliding member 1 or gliding member 2 about both thevertical axis and the horizontal axis of connecting element 9. Inaddition, connecting element 9 can be designed so as to only allow amovement about the horizontal axis. Furthermore, connecting element 9can be designed so as to only allow connecting device to move relativelyto gliding member 1 or gliding member 2, in a manner limited by theangle of rotation. Connecting element 10 is designed so as to be joinedto connecting device 8 by two bearing elements 11, 12, in a hinge-likemanner. In this context, it is possible for connecting device 8 torotate about the horizontal axis of the bearing elements, transverselyto the direction of travel. This enables gliding member 2 to moveupwards and downwards with respect to gliding member 1. In this context,bearing elements 11, 12 can be developed as freely rotatable bearings oras automatically resetting bearings, which only allow a limited angularmotion.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment, where the two gliding members 1, 2to which binding-like devices 3, 4 are attached are connected by athree-piece connecting rod. The connecting rod includes a front part 13,a rear part 14, and a connecting element 17 between front part 13 andrear part 14. In this case, connecting element 17 is designed as ajoint. This allows an angular motion between the rear part 14 and thefront part 13 of the connecting rod, the rotational angle of the angularmotion being limitable by end stops not described in further detail. Itis also possible to design connecting element 17 so that, apart from theangular motion in the horizontal plane, i.e. about the vertical axis ofthe joint, front part 13 of the connecting rod can also move withrespect to rear part 14 of the connecting rod, about the transversehorizontal axis of the joint. For example, such a motion is renderedpossible by the use of rubber bearings in the region of the joint. Inthis context, connecting elements 15, 16 can be designed in such amanner, that a rigid connection exists between gliding members 1, 2 andthe two parts of connecting rod 13, 14, or that, alternatively, oneconnecting element 15 is designed to be rigid and the other connectingelement 16 is designed as a joint, which allows front part (13) of theconnecting rod to rotate with respect to gliding member 1 in at leastone plane.

FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section of an addition to the exemplaryembodiment from FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. Connecting element 6, which isrepresented by way of example, is rigidly connected 10 to gliding member1 in a manner not described in detail. Bearing fastener 18 and limitstops 19, which limit the angular motion of connecting rod assembly 5 inboth the vertical and horizontal directions, are integrated in thehousing of connecting element 6. The ends of connecting rod assembly 5are designed as ball-joint bearings 20, which have a through-hole.Bearing fastener 18 joins connecting rod assembly 5 to the housing ofconnecting element 6, via the through-hole of ball-joint bearing 20. Thedescribed design of connecting element 6 can also apply to the otherconnecting elements 7, 9, 15, 16 described in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG.3.

FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section of an addition to the exemplaryembodiment from FIGS. 1 and 2. Connecting element 6, which isrepresented by way of example, is rigidly connected to gliding member 1in a manner not described in detail. Limit stops 19, which limit theangular motion of connecting rod assembly 5 in both the vertical andhorizontal directions, are integrated in the housing of connectingelement 6. In addition, the joint designed as a bearing pad 21 isintegrated in the housing of connecting element 6. The ends ofconnecting rod assembly 5 are rigidly connected to bearing pad 21.Bearing pad 21 has a conventional design, i.e. a rubber bearing isprovided with metal plates, which are vulcanized to its upper side andlower side, and to which threaded rods are attached. The connection tothe housing of connecting element 6 and connecting rod assembly 5 isaccomplished by a screw joint or another quick-release connection. Theuse of bearing pads 21 as a joint element only allows a limited angularmotion to take place, and allows the bearing to be returned to itsstarting position automatically. The described design of connectingelement 6 can also be applied to any of the other connecting elements 7,9, 15, 16. The hardness, elasticity and service life of the bearing padsmay be varied by including different physical properties in the bearingpads.

FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section of a variant for the exemplaryembodiments shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. In this case, connecting rodassembly 5 is joined to connecting element 6 via bearing element 21, 22,23. The bearing element includes a bearing pad 21, which enables glidingmembers 1, 2 to move relatively to each other, about the transversehorizontal axis. The lower end of bearing pad 21 is joined to connectingelement 6. At the free, upper end of bearing pad 21, a bearing sleeve 23is placed between the threaded rod of bearing pad 21 and the connectingrod assembly 5, and is secured by bearing cover 22 in such a manner,that connecting rod assembly 5 can rotate freely about the vertical axisof the bearing. The combination of a joint that can freely rotate aboutthe vertical bearing axis, and a bearing pad 21 in the form of a jointelement for movement about the transverse horizontal axis, allows, onone hand, only limited rotation about the tranverse horizontal axis andthe automatic restoration of the bearing to its starting position, andon the other hand, unrestricted movement about the vertical axis of thebearing. The described design of connecting element 6 can also apply toany of the other connecting elements 7, 9, 15, or 16.

FIG. 7 shows a front view of an addition to the exemplary embodimentfrom FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. An exemplary locking element 24, 25 isrepresented which, by means of a rigid, but quickly releasableconnection to connecting element 6, limits the freedom of motion ofconnecting rod assembly 5 in such a manner, that connecting rod assembly5 can only move relatively to gliding member 1, about the verticalrotational axis of the joint, or about the transverse horizontal axis.This locking element 24, 25 can be subsequently attached to connectingelement 6 by inserting it, so that the function of the joints can bechanged within a short period of time. Locking element 24, 25 isdesigned in such a manner, that one element can optionally eliminateboth types of rotational motion. Locking element 24, 25 can be furtherdeveloped so as to allow no more angular motion, and produce a rigidconnection between connecting rod assembly 5 and gliding member 1.

FIG. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment in which the two gliding members 1,2, to which binding-like devices 3, 4 are attached, are interconnectedby a connecting device 26. Connecting device 26 is made of connectingrod assembly 31 and two adjustable joint elements 30. The stiffness ofeach joint element 30 can be quickly adjusted, using two hand-operatedknobs 32, 34, respectively. In this context, joint elements 30 can beadjusted continuously or in steps, using hand-operated knobs 32, 34.

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary embodiment in which the two gliding members 1,2 are interconnected by a connecting device 27. Binding devices 28, 29are integrated at the front and rear ends of connecting device 27, andthe entire device is fastened to gliding members 1, 2. In order toadjust the standing width to the measurements of different users, onecan adjust the length in the middle region of connecting rod assembly33. As in the design of FIG. 1, the stiffness of each joint element 30can be quickly adjusted, using two hand-operated knobs 32, 34. In thiscontext, joint elements 30 can be adjusted continuously or in steps,using hand-operated knobs 32, 34.

FIG. 10 shows a longitudinal cross-section of an exemplary embodiment ofconnecting device 26. Represented is an adjustable joint element 30 ofconnecting device 26 for attachment to gliding members 1, 2. Connectingrod assembly 31 from FIG. 8 is made up of the component parts bearingblock 310, spring receptacle 311, lever 312, and cover 313. Jointelement 30 is made up of the component parts spring 35, ball-joint head36, bolt 37, threaded rod 38, and rubber sleeve 39. Bearing block 310 isconnected to gliding member 1, 2, and forms the lower part of connectingrod assembly 31. In bearing block 310, ball-joint head 36 and the end ofspring 35 are secured in place by a screw 37. In this case, bearingblock 310 is designed to allow movement of ball-joint head 36. Thereceptacle for fixing spring 35 in place is integrated in bearing block310. Ball-joint head 36 is permanently connected to a threaded rod 38.To economize on space, threaded rod 38 is situated in the interior spaceof spring 35. Hand-operated knob 32 is screwed onto the top end ofthreaded rod 38. Spring 35 is enclosed by bearing block 310 and springreceptacle 311. Cover 313 and spring receptacle 311 form the bearinghousing for lever 312, which is pivoted at hand-operated knob 32. Thearrangement of hand-operated knob 32, which is free to rotate in thebearing housing made up of cover 313 and spring receptacle 311, allowsspring 35 to be prestressed. The spring constant of spring 35 can bechanged by turning hand-operated knob 32, which brings bearing block 310and spring receptacle 311 together or separates them. When broughttogether completely, spring 35 reaches its maximum available travel,i.e. bearing block 310 and spring receptacle 311 are rigidly connected.The spring constant can be continuously adjusted by separating bearingblock 310 and spring receptacle 311. By securing it on both ends, spring35 is designed as both a torsion, compression, and spiral spring. Thisarrangement creates an adjustable bearing element. Rubber sleeve 39prevents dirt or snow from impairing the function of the joint element.

FIG. 11 shows an exemplary embodiment as an addition to FIG. 10. Asection A—A through bearing block 310 of connecting rod assembly 31 isrepresented. In bearing block 310, ball-joint head 36 and the lower endof spring 35 are secured in place by a screw 37.

FIG. 12 shows an exemplary embodiment as an addition to FIG. 10.Represented is a section B—B through cover 313 of connecting rodassembly 31, and through damping adjustment device 400 for lever 312.Lever 312 is pivoted at hand-operated knob 32, which is connected tothreaded rod 38. Cover 313 is screwed to spring receptacle 311. The freeupper end of spring 35 is fixed in position in cover 313. On the rightside, cover 313 is provided with a rigid limit stop, which is above thelevel of lever 312 and is in the form of a maximum limit stop for lever312, and on the left side, the cover is provided with an adjustablelimit stop and damping adjustment device 400. Damping adjustment device400 includes the component parts ball-joint head 40, spring receptacles41, springs 42, threaded spring receptacles 43, threaded rod 44,securing nut 45, hand-operated knob 34, and cotter pin 46. Ball-headjoint 40 is integrated in the free end of lever 312. Threaded rod 44,which is provided with a right-hand thread over one half of its lengthand a left-hand thread over the other half of its length, is freelypivoted in cover 313. Hand-operated knob 34 is screwed onto one end ofthreaded rod 44, and cotter pin 46 prevents it from rotating relativelyto threaded rod 44. A securing nut 45, which is also prevented fromrotating relatively to threaded rod 44, is screwed onto the other end ofthreaded rod 44. Spring elements made of spring receptacle 41, spring42, and threaded spring receptacle 43 are situated on the respectivesides, between ball-head joint 40 of lever 312, and cover 313. Threadedspring receptacles 43 are either provided with a left-hand thread or aright-hand thread, and are screwed onto threaded rod 44. By turninghand-operated knob 34, threaded spring receptacles 43 are moved inwardsor outwards, so that springs 42 are compressed or relieved. In thismanner, the initial stress in the springs can be adjusted, depending onthe need and the riding situation. It is also possible to completelylock lever 312, so that it cannot rotate any more. This creates a rigidconnection between lever 312 and cover 313. The damping adjustmentdevice may include a combination of spring-damper units and adjustmentof the damping adjustment device may be performed by a manual, electricor pneumatic adjusting device. Additionally, all connecting devices forthe embodiments illustrated may be manufactured of at least one ofaluminum, steel and plastic. FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of theadjusting device with an electric adjusting arrangement 401. FIG. 14illustrates an embodiment of the adjusting device with a pneumaticadjusting arrangement 402.

What is claimed is:
 1. A two-piece snowboard for controlled movement onsnow and other media for gliding, the two-piece snowboard comprising: afront gliding member coupled to a front binding device for binding afront foot of a user to an upper surface of the front gliding member; arear gliding member coupled to a rear binding device for binding a backfoot of the user to an upper surface of the rear gliding member; and aconnecting device for coupling the front gliding member to the reargliding member, the connecting device being connected to a rear regionof the front gliding member and to a front region of the rear glidingmember, the connecting device including a lever and at least one of a)at least one adjustable joint element; and b) a damping adjustmentdevice the at least one of at least one adjustable joint element and adamping adjusting device movably interconnecting individual parts of theconnecting device to allow movement in at least one plane and providinga restoring torque which automatically returns the front and reargliding members into a primary longitudinal position, the at least oneof at least one adjustable joint element and a damping adjusting deviceincluding an adjustment device enabling one of continuous and stepwiseadjustment of a magnitude of a spring constant and a level of restoringtorque; wherein at least one of the following: i) the at least one ofthe at least one adjustable joint element and the damping adjustmentdevice can be adjusted so as to render the connecting device rigid; ii)the front binding device is integrated at a front end of the connectingdevice; and iii) the rear binding device is integrated at a rear end ofthe connecting device; wherein the connecting device and the frontbinding device are fastened to the front gliding member using commonfastening points and the connecting device and the rear binding deviceare each fastened to the rear gliding member using common fasteningpoints, and the length of the lever is adjustable; and wherein the atleast one adjustable joint element includes: a bearing block; a springreceptacle; a spring having lower and upper ends and an interior space,the lower end being secured in the bearing block, and the upper endbeing secured in the spring receptacle; a cover; a dust protectionsleeve; and a threaded rod situated in the interior space of the springhaving lower and upper ends, the lower end of the threaded rod includinga ball-joint head movably attached in the bearing block, and the upperend being screwed into a hand-operating knob, the upper end of thethreaded rod being supported in a region of the connecting device in thespring receptacle and cover, such that an initial stress of the springcan be at least one of increased and decreased; wherein the spring isenclosed by the dust protection sleeve.
 2. The two-piece snowboard asrecited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one adjustablejoint element and the damping adjustment device include a combination ofspring-damper units and adjustment is performed by a manual, electric,or pneumatic adjusting device.
 3. The two-piece snowboard as recited inclaim 1, wherein the front and rear binding devices include fasteningplates for attachment to the respective front and rear gliding members,and the connecting device includes a bearing block, the bearing blockbeing integrated into the fastening plates.
 4. The two-piece snowboardas recited in claim 1, wherein the connecting device includes at leastone of aluminum, steel and plastic.
 5. A two-piece snowboard forcontrolled movement on snow and other media for gliding, the two-piecesnowboard comprising: a front gliding member coupled to a front bindingdevice for binding a front foot of a user to an upper surface of thefront gliding member; a rear gliding member coupled to a rear bindingdevice for binding a back foot of the user to an upper surface of therear gliding member; and a connecting device for coupling the frontgliding member to the rear gliding member, the connecting device beingconnected to a rear region of the front gliding member and to a frontregion of the rear gliding member, the connecting device including alever and at least one of a) at least one adjustable joint element; andb) a damping adjustment device the at least one of at least oneadjustable joint element and a damping adjusting device movablyinterconnecting individual parts of the connecting device to allowmovement in at least one plane and providing a restoring torque whichautomatically returns the front and rear gliding members into a primarylongitudinal position, the at least one of at least one adjustable jointelement and a damping adjusting device including an adjustment deviceenabling one of continuous and stepwise adjustment of a magnitude of aspring constant and a level of restoring torque; wherein at least one ofthe following: i) the at least one of the at least one adjustable jointelement and the damping adjustment device can be adjusted so as torender the connecting device rigid; ii) the front binding device isintegrated at a front end of the connecting device; and iii) the rearbinding device is integrated at a rear end of the connecting device;wherein the connecting device and the front binding device are fastenedto the front gliding member using common fastening points and theconnecting device and the rear binding device are each fastened to therear gliding member using common fastening points, and the length of thelever is adjustable; wherein the dampening adjustment device for thelever includes: a cover; a ball-joint head attached to the lever; twospring receptacles; a threaded rod having a right-hand thread over onehalf of it length, and a left-hand thread over the further half of itslength, the threaded rod being supported in the cover a first and secondgroup of threaded spring receptacles, the first group of threaded springreceptacles having a left-hand thread in its bore enabling thereceptacles to move longitudinally on the threaded rod, the second groupof threaded spring receptacles having a right-hand thread in its boreenabling the receptacles to move longitudinally on the threaded rod;first and second springs, the first and second springs being held in thespring receptacles and the first and second groups of threaded springreceptacles, the first and second springs being situated in spacesbetween the cover and the ball-head joint, the springs beingcompressible such that a rigid connection is possible between the leverand the cover; a securing nut coupled to the threaded rod; and ahand-operated knob coupled to the threaded rod.